| Objective To observe the change of SDF-1 levels in the bone and skeletal muscle during the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with TCM nourishing the kidney-yin, warming the kidney-yang, tonifying spleen, and tonifying kidney and spleen, and to explore the modern medical mechanism of TCM in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Methods Except the normal group, ovariectomized rats with osteoporosis were randomly divided into model group, tonifying kidney-yin group, tonifying kidney-yang group, invigorating spleen group, tonifying kidney and invigorating spleen group, and Fosamax group. Serum ALP, TRACP, bone and skeletal muscle SDF-1 levels in rats of each group were examined with ELISA method. Results 1) Compared to the normal group, ALP and TRACP levels in the model group increased significantly (P<0.01). All treated-groups showed decreased levels of ALP and TRACP comparing to those in the model group (P<0.01), especially in the Fosamax group, followed by that in the tonifying kidney and invigorating spleen group. 2) SDF-1 levels in the bone and skeletal muscle in the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group (P<0.01). Compared to the model group, bone SDF-1 levels in the tonifying kidney-yang group and the Fosamax group decreased significantly (P<0.01), followed by that in the invigorating spleen group and tonifying kidney-yin group (P<0.05). Skeletal muscle SDF-1 levels in the Fosamax group and invigorating spleen group were significantly lower than those in the model group (P<0.01). Conclusion 1) The occurrence of osteoporosis is related to the increase of SDF-1 expression in the bone and skeletal muscle. 2) Treatment with nourishing the kidney-yin, warming the kidney-yang, invigorating spleen and tonifying kidney and spleen show effects on postmenopausal osteoporosis by down-regulating SDF-1 expressions in the bone and skeletal muscle. |